Silverstone deadline puts British motorsport at the crossroads

British fans may not see Jenson Button square up to Lewis Hamilton on home soil in 2010 as the saga over the British Grand Prix continues. So why hasn’t Silverstone signed on the dotted line with Bernie Ecclestone? And just what is jeopardising the future of a major British sporting event? Silverstone stands on the brink, delicately poised between a long term deal that will safeguard the future of the British Grand Prix for two decades and an extensive period in the Formula 1 wilderness. The ghosts of an abandoned and abused Donington howl across the landscape and whistle across Northamptonshire’s flatlands. Thrown into administration last week, the circuit, which once witnessed the glories of Ayrton Senna in his pomp, is now a monument to reckless ambition where belief that “it will work out” replaced the cold hard realities of the world economy. A monument to one man’s folly that has blighted the lives of thousands who would have worked, raced or watched events there. It is a monument to stupidity and a clarion call to Silverstone and Ecclestone to get it right. If a deal is done in Northamptonshire it is likely to be for 17 years. If it is not done it could mean an equally long time attempting to get back in. Both sides are trying to strike the longest deal they’ve ever done. And that makes a lot of sense in many respects. It avoids endless negotiations on short term deals which seem to start almost as soon as the last deal has been done. Negotiation when money is tight inevitably results in ill-feeling and confrontation. A long term deal means stability, investment and growth. Sponsors can be approached to sign long term deals and planning made well into the third decade of the new millennium. Significant investment can be made to the facilities in the full knowledge that certain levels of income are virtually guaranteed year in, year out. Silverstone have indicated that means a new pits and paddock, significant developments of the kind that Ecclestone has been chasing for decades. A long term deal is also good news for Ecclestone and the F1 teams. It means another firm building block cemented into place for the future. A majority of the team are based in the UK and the event is crucial to them, their sponsors and staff who make up a significant number of…

Posted by admin 20 November 2009

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